Working Fire at Paper Mill in the Borough

On Friday evening at 18:51, the Modena Fire Company, along with mutual aid companies, responded to the Sealed Air Corporation in Modena Borough for a reported building fire.

While en route, units were informed of flames visible in first and second floor windows. Upon arrival, Chief 37 found the building to appear normal with no visible smoke or fire. Shortly afterward, employees exited the building and reported an active fire on the second floor. Chief 37 then upgraded the response to a working fire dispatch and requested first alarm tankers.

Multiple hose lines were deployed to the first and second floors as crews from all responding companies worked together to bring the fire under control by 19:31. Firefighters remained on scene to perform cleanup and ventilate the large building.

Sealed Air Corporation produces large rolls of paper commonly used in public bathroom paper towel dispensers. The building features machinery with pits underneath and dust collectors where excess paper falls for recycling. On this evening, what is believed to have been a malfunctioning bearing ignited the excess paper in the pits, causing the fire to spread throughout the machine and its immediate area.

All units cleared the scene at 20:44. Thank You to West Whiteland Fire Company for providing standby during the incident and assisted with returning units to service. Some photos are courtesy of IrishEyez.